Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Even If Nothing Else Is Certain by Amy Willoughby-Burle

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Even If Nothing Else Is Certain by Amy Willoughby-Burle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Even If Nothing Else Is Certain 
Series: Love for Certain #2
Author: Amy Willoughby-Burle
Publisher: Fireship Press
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance (clean)

Even if nothing else is certain … love still is. 

Ruby Foster loves her job as a Pack Horse librarian, but secretly she dreams of being a nurse. Since there are no schools for nursing in the hills of rural Kentucky in 1937, Ruby contents herself with harvesting medicinal plants, delivering her beloved library books, and dreaming. Dreaming mostly of a life that doesn’t leave her living in the past. Until one day she discovers that “past” camped out by the Hell for Certain creek. Could it really be Cole, the one who left her heartbroken so many years ago? Just when she starts to believe in her dreams and hope for love again, Cole reveals his true colors. Or is the truth she sees only another illusion? When nothing else in the world seems certain, can the bonds of friendship bring one searching heart and one lost soul together again?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

 

Interview with Author Amy Willoughby-Burle

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I always start out with “I’m a mom.” So… I’m a mom, a teacher, a writer. I grew up in Kure Beach, North Carolina and now live in the mountains of NC just outside Asheville. I’ve got 5 kids. Four that I had by birth and one that God sent to me as a teenage boy. My husband and I met at a writers workshop (Wildacres Writers Workshop) that I’m now the director of some 25 plus years later. I have recently become one of those crazy chicken ladies that you see on Instagram. I’m not sure how it happened, but it did.


What do you do besides writing?

I teach high school literature at a small private school. I spend quite a bit of time cooking, doing laundry, and telling people to brush their teeth at night. I’m often distracted by petting my cats. I love to meet my husband for coffee on a random weekday if we’re both free–I’m out of school and he doesn’t have patients (he’s a chiropractor) for a little bit. I’m in a wonderful book club. I have fantastic friends. I have a wonderful church family. Hmm, I guess the next time I start to complain about something I’ll reread this answer. Life is not too shabby.


What was your favorite part of researching for this book?

I learned so much about medicinal plants as well as the amazing Frontier Nursing Service started by Mary Breckinridge in Hyden, KY. I came across some really cool old medical books that make an appearance in the novel. I learned all about how to run an old-school printing press. I watched so many videos and read so much about those presses that I’m pretty sure if I ever travel back in time and come across one, I could totally use it!


Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

I LOVE to fantasy cast my characters.

For Cole I pictured Benjamin Hollingsworth. Someone with a sweet look about him, but the potential to have some darker places in his heart. Ben is often cast as the spoiled rich guy type for Hallmark. Cole is not that at all, but for some reason his is the face that came to mind. If you’ve seen Virgin River, he’s got a bad boy with a heart of something like gold, LOL, that is somewhat closer to Cole–wants to do the right thing, but keeps getting it wrong.

For Ruby I thought of Jessy Schram (as you can tell, I watch a lot of Hallmark movies) but with unruly brown hair. LOL. I like her spunky appeal and bright smile with the potential to be a bit sassy.


What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

I have to admit I don’t listen to too much music when I’m writing per se. Especially not music with words because then I start to think about the story of the song and then I’m not paying attention to my story, LOL. But I did keep in my ear some of the folk music from the 1920s and 30s Appalachia. There’s music in the book–Daniel and his brothers-in-law play fiddle and such.


What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

I hope readers will take away from the book that it’s not too late to tell the truth, to trust in God and in the people who love you, to follow your dreams and to believe in yourself and the plan that God has in store.


What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

Book 3! There’s at least one more “season” of this story left to tell. After that–maybe Book 4. We’ll see if the story gets continued (I hope so!) I also have a couple of contemporary novels being shopped around and one book set in the 1970s. I’m not sure if that qualifies as historical yet or not. I’m from the 1970s and sometimes it feels like ages ago and sometimes just yesterday. One way or the next, I’m still writing!

More Books In This Series

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About the Author

Amy Willoughby-Burle is an award winning fiction author living in Asheville, NC with her husband and five children. Her fiction focuses on the importance of family and friends and centers on the themes of forgiveness, second chances, and finding the beauty in the world around us. She is the author of the novels The Lemonade Year, The Year of Thorns and Honey, The Other Side of Certain and Even if Nothing Else Is Certain. Her short fiction has been published in numerous journals and in her collection, Out Across the Nowhere. 

Connect with Amy by visiting amywilloughbyburle.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, signed copies of The Other Side of Certain and Even if Nothing Else is Certain, and librarian & plant themed bookmarks, stickers and postcards!

(1) additional winner will win a signed copy of Even if Nothing Else is Certain!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 1, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 8, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Every Bird That Falls by Sara Davison

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Every Bird That Falls by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Every Bird That Falls
Series: two sparrows for a penny # 3
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Independently published through The Mosaic Collection
Release Date: April 3, 2024
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Lies have kept them apart for eight years.  

Now the truth could destroy them completely. 

Bomb squad leader Tag Monroe’s world is shattered when his sister and her foster sister are abducted by a human trafficker. Eight years later, the two of them have been miraculously freed. As thrilled as he is to be reunited with his sister, Tag has lingering questions. 

How did Jae-won Lin, the third foster sister, elude capture that night? Why didn’t she call the police or Tag to let them know what happened? And where has she been for the last eight years? He loved Jae once, but he can’t let her back into his life until he has more information. 

Unfortunately, time is running out. Someone powerful is coming after Jae, bent on revenge. If Tag can’t get to her before her mysterious pursuer, Jae could take the answers to all Tag’s questions to her grave. 

Along with any hope the two of them might have to find their way to each other again.  

The explosive Christian romantic suspense series two sparrows for a penny by multi-award-winning author Sara Davison continues with this on-the-edge-suspense love story that might finally answer the question: Where was Jae?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Interview with Author Sara Davison

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hmm, let’s see. I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. Like most Canadians, I love hockey (watching) and baseball (watching and playing), poutine and butter tarts, my family and friends. Above all, I love God, and I love sharing the stories He gives me with readers. Every Bird That Falls is my fourteenth romantic suspense novel. While the writing journey can be frustrating and discouraging at times, it has also been for me a journey of great joy, excitement, and amazing community, and I am grateful every day to be part of it.

What do you do besides writing?

When I’m not writing, I am often pretending to fully participate in other activities and conversations while actually conjuring up characters and scenarios in my head (ha ha). I do love spending time with my husband of twenty-eight years, Michael, and our three pretty much grown kids. I also love going for coffee with friends, reading (of course), road trips, book club discussions, coffee, chocolate, and movies, especially old classics. Casablanca and anything with Jimmy Stewart in it are my favorites, although I’ll settle for Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, or Gregory Peck.

What was your favorite part of researching for this book?

 

My favorite part of researching for this book was looking into how to treat bullet wounds with only ingredients that might be found in a hunting cabin and how to build and detonate your own bomb, both of which have likely landed me on more than one watch list somewhere. 

Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

 

I typically have a pretty good idea of what my characters look like, but I rarely use actual images, relying on the mental image I have of them. With Jae from Every Bird That Falls, though, I did find an image that matched the one in my head. And I found one close to Tag, although Tag is bigger than this and, because he has been trapped in a cabin for a few days, would have more facial hair.

 

 

What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

Although I know a lot of authors listen to music when they write and even go so far as to have a soundtrack that goes with their story, I am not like that. I’m not a big music person anyway, so I can’t say that any song inspired the story, and I don’t listen to music while I’m writing as I find that too distracting. Having said that, if I had to choose one song to go with this book, it would have to be Kathy Mattea’s “Where Have You Been?” Jae has been missing for eight years, and Tag has been asking this question since the night she disappeared, so that one would be a good fit. 

 

What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?
 

The message of this story and of every story I write is that we are never alone. That no matter what we are going through, what we have done, or what has been done to us, God is there. He sees us and knows us and has promised to never leave us or forsake us. With every book I send out into the world, I pray that each person who reads it will take that promise and assurance with them when they finish and that it will fill them with hope.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

The third book in my Rose Tattoo trilogy, Sharp Like Glass, should come out in the fall of 2024. In the spring of 2025, I hope to release the sequel to The Color of Sky and Stone, book one in my new series, In the Shadows. I also contribute stories to the anthologies that the group of indie authors I am blessed to be part of, The Mosaic Collection, puts out every summer and Christmas. My contributions to those anthologies are always connected to my series and are either prequels or tell the stories of minor characters, so I am starting to add “Suggested Order of Reading” lists to the front of my books so readers can get the full series experience.

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About the Author

Sara Davison has a passion for writing stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats—and maybe swooning a little. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Cascade, Word, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara by visiting saradavison.org to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card plus a paperback copy of Every Bird That Falls!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 2, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 9, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Renewed Hope by Carmen Peone, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Renewed Hope
Series: Seven Tine Ranch Romance #3
Author: Carmen Peone
Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Can they find her son in time? 

Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts. Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch. Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them. 

 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

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Author Interview with Carmen Peone

Thank you for hosting me today. It’s an honor to be featured on your blog!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a country girl at heart. Though raised in the valley of Spokane, WA, now Spokane Valley, WA, I dreamed about living in the country on a ranch and raising and riding horses in the mountains. That all came true when I met my husband in college and we moved northwest of the city and on his Indian Reservation.

I now own horses (we’re down to two) and enjoy trail rides and horse camping. What I liked most was competing in Extreme Cowboy races. That was a hoot. Especially when they were not in an arena, but in natural environments.


What do you do besides writing?

I read a lot of fiction and non-fiction, bead Native American-style jewelry, sew, paddle board, and enjoy photographing nature and animals. I also spend as much time as I can with my grandchildren. They are the joy in my life. Before the service begins at my church, I play worship music on the piano and enjoy playing the Native American flute at home.


What was your favorite part of researching for this book?

My favorite parts of researching Renewed Hope were my four trips to the Polson, MT, area. I traveled there three times with my husband and one time with two lady friends. I’m not sure what is more spectacular, Flathead Lake, Mission Mountains, or Hungry Horse Dam and Recreational Area. You can click on my website and follow my blog series this month. One segment is about the setting, plus I share photos of the above places and more.


Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

In my month-long, weekly Renewed Hope book release blog series, I begin with Sophie Cayes on 2.6.24 and end with Chad Davis on 2.27.24. You can sign up for my blog to see all of the Renewed Hope Book Release posts. (After the book release series, I’ll continue with my monthly Women Honoring the West series.)

I do like to find the visual character inspiration images before I write so I don’t have to go back and fill in blank spots. The images help bring the characters to life and add fun and another element of creativity to the story. 

 

What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

I always listen to Native Flute music because it’s soothing and there are no words to distract me. My favorite is Native American Sleep Music. There’s something special about the canyon sounds. Listen to the Music.


What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

I want readers to know more about domestic violence and abuse. I want victims to know they are not alone and that there is help and hope. I have a resource page on my website to learn more and find out how to get help. Get Carmen’s Resources.


What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

I’m working on a series that features rodeo queens and rodeo cowboys. I’m having a ton of fun with these three books and need the break from the heaviness of the Seven Tine Ranch Romance series.

In the Rodeo Queen series, there are second chances, enemies to lovers (or love, as these are Christian novels), and friends to lovers.

You can follow along by signing up for my newsletter. When you do, you’ll receive my novella, Gentling the Cowboy, as a thank-you gift. Sign up here.

 

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About the Author

Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense and lives with her husband in Northeast Washington and on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation. She weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses into her stories that lead to happily ever after.

Connect with Carmen by visiting carmenpeone.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates. 

 

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a signed copy of Renewed Hope, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a story-related postcard!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 5, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 12, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Hunted at Christmas
Series: Amish Country Justice
Author: Dana R. Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Wanted by a bounty hunter. 

 Chased by a killer. 

When single mother Addison Johnson is attacked by a hit man, she learns there’s a price on her head. And Isaiah Bender—the bounty hunter hired to track her down for crimes she didn’t commit—is her only hope for survival. Protecting Addison and her young son from armed assailants means seeking refuge in Amish country. But when their holiday hideout is discovered, can he clear an innocent woman’s name and keep her alive?  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Interview with Author Dana R. Lynn

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

 

Sure! I grew up near Chicago, but moved to rural Pennsylvania after I met my husband at my bet friend’s wedding. He was the best man and I was the maid of honor. We’ve been married for almost 26 years and have 3 children, one daughter and two sons. Our daughter just got married, so I am still reeling from this change. However, we feel so blessed to have our son-in-law joining our family. I love writing stories that contain romance and also allow me to share my love of Jesus. I consider my writing a ministry. It’s been such a blessing in my life.


What do you do besides writing? 

 

I am a full time teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I love my job and find it very rewarding. I am also active in my church.


What was your favorite part of researching for this book? 

 

I loved researching bounty hunters. I found out that nearly everything I thought about that job choice was wrong, or at least only a partial truth. I also found it interesting that bounty hunters aren’t legal in all states.


Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process? 

 

In my mind, my heroine, Addison, resembles a young Emmy Rossum. Think of the movie version of The Phantom of the Opera (2004). I pictured a young Simon Baker as Isaiah. When I begin to think of characters, I search Pinterest to find images of people who best fit my mental image of the character. This helps me when I need to explain how the character looks to the marketing department. I will put an image on my character board so that as I write I can look to it. You’d be amazed how easy it is to forget a character’s eye color once you have several books of characters on your board. This way, instead of remembering, I can look at the image.


What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book? 

 

Music is so powerful to me. Some of my favorites for writing included “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, “Remember Your Chains” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “One Small Child” by David Meece and “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant. Actually, Christmas music in general was a great muse!


What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book? 

 

Out of all the books I’ve published to date, Hunted at Christmas is my favorite. And it’s all because of my hero. Isaiah Bender is somewhat of a prodigal son. He doesn’t realize it, but he is on his journey home. I really felt the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness while writing this book.


What can we look forward to coming from you in the future? 

 

In May, the last Bender sibling will finally get his story! I have had so many readers ask me when Gideon will get his story, so I’m pleased to say Amish Witness to Murder will be out in 2024. Later in 2024, forensic artist Francesca Brown and FBI Special Agent Tanner Hall will work together and find love in Protecting the Amish Child. While I have a few other things in the works, these are the projects with finalized dates. I can’t wait to share these stories with readers!

 

More in This Series

 

more Amish Country Justice series titles

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About the Author

Dana R. Lynn is an award winning author of romantic suspense and Amish romance who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. Although she grew up in Illinois, she met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group.

Connect with Dana by visiting danarlynn.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a $10 Amazon gift card, a pen and a mug!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 27, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 4, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for pen & mug. Egift card only in case of CAN winner. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Review and Author Interview: The Beacon Street Bookshop by Carla Laureano

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Ever since Olivia Quinn lost her husband to a freak plane crash, she’s been focused on one thing—making a stable life for her teen stepdaughter, Taylor, of whom she’s the sole guardian. But when she loses her job as a children’s book editor because she refuses to relocate from Colorado to New York, all her hard-won stability is shattered. Then the opportunity arises to open Liv’s dream bookshop in Haven Ridge, offering not only the solution to her financial problems, but a chance to bond with her stepdaughter and become a real family for the first time. Soon, the wild idea transforms into a thriving nonprofit, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of the town—and a handsome contractor who stirs feelings in Liv she'd thought might be gone forever. But just as she begins to lean into the new life she’s made for herself, a figure from her late husband’s past puts the life she’s been building with Taylor in jeopardy. And Liv must face the possibility that following her heart might just cost her a daughter.

My Review

I absolutely love the themes of restoration and revitalization in Haven Ridge! The small Colorado town has been "cursed" since a scandal rocked the community and it was handled badly. Families moved away, businesses and stores emptied. But with a new zeal for hope mixed with some faith and goodwill, the younger generation is slowly returning- breathing new life and enterprise into the town that is forgettable to many, but not to those with important memories there. 

 

Liv and her teenage stepdaughter Taylor have a complicated relationship, and their growth throughout the book was inspiring as they communicate more and create lasting bonds. Their healing dynamic is challenged with changes they are facing as new people come into their lives, but the bookshop is their shared endeavor and creates opportunities for them to be consistent and present with each other, despite the personal and emotional struggles. Liv and Charlie have great chemistry and I enjoyed their special moments together as their romance developed. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the previous books in the Haven Ridge series . . .

* The e-book of The Brick House Cafe is free to subscribers at carlalaureano.com

 

 

About the Author

Carla Laureano is the two-time RITA® award-winning author of sixteen books, spanning the genres of contemporary romance and Celtic fantasy. A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked in sales and marketing for more than a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write full-time. In 2022, she founded Sophisticated Fiction to provide editorial, critique, and coaching services to authors of all levels. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two sons, and an opinionated tortoiseshell cat named Willow.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon

Q & A with Carla Laureano

What is the Haven Ridge series about?

The Haven Ridge series is a small-town romance series with a magical realism twist: the town has gotten away from its founding mission to provide a haven for people who needed a fresh start and a community, and as such, it’s slowly dwindling away. The prequel novella, The Brick House Cafe, goes into the history of the town and its goal to rebuild itself by drawing back the people it needs and who in turn need it. Each full length shows how the town draws people together and how the people in it contribute to the new life of the town!


What is The Beacon Street Bookshop about?

I introduced Liv Quinn in The Broken Hearts Bakery as the catalyst that got Gemma back to Haven Ridge, and we got a little window into her struggles of being a young window and guardian of a teenage stepdaughter. We also saw she was facing a pretty big work decision—stay in Haven Ridge or move back to New York in order to keep her job. It probably surprises no one that she decided to stay in Haven Ridge, but this story is about how she deals with all the change in her life—not the least being how to incorporate romance back into it while raising her late husband’s daughter.

I love this story because it’s angsty and heartfelt, but it’s still got some delicious new-love tingles throughout. This is definitely the most romantic book of the series so far.


The Beacon Street Bookshop has some serious themes. Why did you choose to write about them in this book?

I’m in a similar phase in life to Liv—I have two teenage boys, a recent high school graduate who is continuing his education and starting his career, and one who is just entering the high school years. There are lots of feelings attached to this phase of parenting, not the least of which is figuring out where to draw the line between letting them have their independence and still remaining a strong influence in their lives. I channeled some of that uncertainty into Liv, made more difficult by the fact that she hadn’t raised Taylor since birth and has a bit of a complex about being the stepmom.


What was the easiest scene in The Beacon Street Bookshop to write?

I’ve had the meet cute between Liv and Charlie in my head since the beginning of the series, so I couldn’t wait to get it down on paper. “Love” at first sight is super fun to write, especially when the parties involved are completely determined not to acknowledge it.


What was the hardest scene in The Beacon Street Bookshop to write?

Believe it or not, the final chapter before the epilogue! And I don’t think it was all that successful initially, because my beta readers said it fell a little flat. So I had to rewrite that last chapter and the epilogue several times until I felt like I’d given readers (and the characters) enough closure to end the book. But I love the way it turned out in the end. Liv and Charlie’s happy ending feels really satisfying now.


What is your favorite scene involving Liv and Charlie?

There’s a particular scene where Liv is served up a gut punch and her first instinct is to ask Charlie to stay with her. Until then she’d been sort of resisting what he meant to her, but he’s the one that she wants for support when the chips are down.


Which character was the hardest to write?

Probably Taylor. She’s very mercurial, so I was constantly walking the line between her being sympathetic and irritating (like a real teenager, at times). I’m not going to say that I drew from some of the more difficult moments of my parenting journey, but let’s just say that I sympathize with Liv over Taylor’s bouts of snottiness.


Which character was the easiest to write?

Liv felt very natural to write, which is a surprise because she’s less like me than some of the other characters in the series. But I’ve always liked her combination of determination and self-doubt, which is something I think we can all relate to.


What would readers never guess about the writing of the book?

This is a much-abbreviated version of the first draft! I always find the second full-length books in a series a bit difficult to write because I have to incorporate everything that’s happened before as well as set up the books to come… and that was reflected in the fact that the book was about fifty pages too long! It took a very painful process of cutting and rearranging to get this into its final format. (Aspiring authors who aren’t happy with their first drafts take heart!)


Where did you get the idea for this book?

I knew that I was going to get Liv together with a down-on-his-luck contractor who was the polar opposite from her late husband as soon as I conceived of the empty accessory unit above her garage and the work-in-progress kitchen…long before the other books were written! But as I started to develop the Haven Ridge series, I decided to lean into all the businesses and features about small town life that gave me warm fuzzies. And small independent bookstores are one of the things I love best (along with bakeries) so it was natural to make Liv part of the book world and have her open a bookshop.


What kind of research did you do to write this series?

The majority of my research involved the setting: Haven Ridge is set rather vaguely in a real area of southern Colorado, between Salida and Buena Vista. It has a colorful and interesting history, so coming up with a founding story that was plausible (as detailed in the prequel novella, The Brick House Cafe) and fit with the actual history of the area was my first priority. From there, it was getting the architectural and topographical details right. Fortunately, my experience in publishing made writing Liv pretty easy, but I did have to email the very kind and helpful people at the Chaffee County Building Department about how contractor licenses worked in the area.


Most of your books are set in Colorado. Is Haven Ridge based on a real place, or is it made up?

Haven Ridge is completely made up, but it’s heavily based on Salida, Colorado, which is in the same area. Given the fact that they were founded about the same time and sit in the same general area, it made sense to model the architecture and hot springs on the real place.


What can we expect next from you?

I’m planning for the Haven Ridge series to run for at least four books, not including the prequel, so you can expect two more after this one! I’m hoping to finish up the series with a Christmas novel, which will be the first one I’ve ever written.


What can you tell us about the next book in the Haven Ridge series?

The next book in the series is The Larkspur House. It will be the story of Will Parker, who we got to meet briefly in The Beacon Street Bookshop, his sister, Erin, and a brand-new heroine that we haven’t yet met! Plus lots of historic-mansion vibes and a century-old mystery. I think readers who enjoyed Provenance are going to like this one!